30 Levels

[green slime]

Well, considering the 3e 20 levels vs 4e 30 levels... And looking at the way spell levels are granted, (every second level), I'll go way out on a limb, and suggest they are going to go a new spell level every 3rd level instead:
1st at 1st
2nd at 4th
3rd at 7th
4th at 10th
5th at 13th
6th at 16th
7th at 19th
8th at 22nd
9th at 25th

Which combined with martial artists gaining feats, and/or class abilities, every level and the new choice of racial "improvements" mean that there may well be more parity with spellcasters.

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

Nigel!

"Yes, but you're not as confused as him are you? I mean you don't get paid to be as confused as Nigel!"

 

[F4NBOY]

I wonder if the power chart will be again a curve going upwards or just an stragith line. I mean, geometrical power increase as in 3E or an aritimetical power increase.
If that's the case, it would be a reason for the 30 level. Maybe they stretched the 20 along most of the 30 levels.
Also 2 lvl 5th characters are as strong a 10 level character,
That would help a lot when tailoring encounters.

obs: sorry if used some technical term incorrectly. I'm not the math type.

 

[WhatGravitas]

The cynical side of me (as if I had another one) thinks that changing the level structure is probably part of their plan to make it harder to do conversions and use older material. If the rumors about prolonging the "sweet spot" are correct, I don't see how that wouldn't mean spreading out the power over the additional new levels.

Well, spreading out the power has a purpose: Make more levels interesting. Don't forget, to be D&D, they have to keep the upper end of the power curve:

Miracle.
Wish.

That's D&Dish power. Losing the upper end of the curve, means Elminster, Szass Tam, Halaster, Mordenkainen, Bigby and their friends just have lost a massive amount of power... this would wreck settings... or do you want a new Time of Troubles, combined with Greyhawk: FtA and including the New Mourning on Eberron!?

 

[Keldryn]

I started playing D&D with the Basic, Expert, Companion, and Master rules sets, which, as previously mentioned, had a built-in limit of 36th level for human characters.

When I "moved on" to Advanced D&D, I was somewhat bothered that the tables in the books only covered advancement through the 'teens.

When 2nd Edition AD&D came out, I thought that the 20th-level "maximum" was dumb and unnecessarily limiting. I had yet to play any computer or video game RPGs at this time.

It's all a matter of perspective.

Also, as mentioned in another thread, the D&D game that I first played had definite themes or goals through each of those "sets" of levels:

Basic (1-3) - Straightforward dungeon adventures
Expert (4-14) - Wilderness adventures, becoming well-known heroes
Companion (15-25) - Establishing a stronghold and domain, acquiring followers, making a greater impact on the world
Master (26-36) - Preparing to transcend beyond mortal concerns and the quest for immortality

I liked this setup, and I think it would be very cool if 4th Edition picked up some of this overall structure, instead of just having bigger and more dangerous dungeon adventures.

 

[jmucchiello]

Well, considering the 3e 20 levels vs 4e 30 levels... And looking at the way spell levels are granted, (every second level), I'll go way out on a limb, and suggest they are going to go a new spell level every 3rd level instead:

Welcome to my limb. I went out onto it yesterday in the other "30 levels" thread.

 

[Hjorimir]

As for spell levels, I sure hope they shoot that cow and start making spell levels equal to the level at which you get them. Fireball should be a 5th-level spell!

 

[Mortellan]

Video game comparisons are becoming more common about this edition. Hmm, I wonder if PVP will be encouraged?

 

[KingCrab]

Also, as mentioned in another thread, the D&D game that I first played had definite themes or goals through each of those "sets" of levels:

Basic (1-3) - Straightforward dungeon adventures
Expert (4-14) - Wilderness adventures, becoming well-known heroes
Companion (15-25) - Establishing a stronghold and domain, acquiring followers, making a greater impact on the world
Master (26-36) - Preparing to transcend beyond mortal concerns and the quest for immortality

I liked this setup, and I think it would be very cool if 4th Edition picked up some of this overall structure, instead of just having bigger and more dangerous dungeon adventures.

I recall those days well. I never really liked the preparing to transend to immortality stage nor did I like the gold immortal boxed set. I liked reading it, but didn't really want to run or play it. I did like the Basic, Expert, and Companion suggested roles though. Maybe they could do something different for the "master" levels.

 

[Mortellan]

I recall those days well. I never really liked the preparing to transend to immortality stage nor did I like the gold immortal boxed set. I liked reading it, but didn't really want to run or play it. I did like the Basic, Expert, and Companion suggested roles though. Maybe they could do something different for the "master" levels.

I agree there. there was something about graduating to a higher level or color set of D&D that appealed to me. Of course I was back in school in those days...